Difference between revisions of "F-15 Eagle"
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==Combat History== | ==Combat History== | ||
| + | ===Israel=== | ||
The F-15 first saw combat with the [[Israeli]] air force. On June 27, 1979, F-15s were escorting a strike mission in southern [[Lebanon]] when several Syrian Mig-21s attempted to intercept. The Eagles shot down four Migs with no loss.<ref>Rolling Thunder: Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War, by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref> | The F-15 first saw combat with the [[Israeli]] air force. On June 27, 1979, F-15s were escorting a strike mission in southern [[Lebanon]] when several Syrian Mig-21s attempted to intercept. The Eagles shot down four Migs with no loss.<ref>Rolling Thunder: Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War, by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref> | ||
In 1981, Israeli Eagles provided escort for the successful attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in [[Iraq]]. | In 1981, Israeli Eagles provided escort for the successful attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in [[Iraq]]. | ||
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| + | ===United States=== | ||
| + | The F-15 first saw combat with the [[USAF|US Air Force]] in the [[Gulf War]]. On the first night of Desert Storm, January 17, 1991, Eagle pilot Captain John Kelk shot down a Mig-29 with a Sparrow missile for the first air-to-air victory of the war. Eagles downed five more Iraqi planes that night (two more Mig-29s and three Mirages), all with Sparrow missiles. 2 days later, Eagles scored a further six victories. By the end of the war, US Air Force Eagles had shot down 31 Iraqi aircraft, 26 of them fighters, for no losses.<ref>F-15C Eagle Units in Combat, by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref> After the war, F-15s enforced the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq. | ||
== See also== | == See also== | ||
Revision as of 18:46, May 16, 2008
The Boeing F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter, developed by the United States Air Force to establish and maintain air superiority during combat missions. Originally designed by McDonnell Douglas, prior to its merger with Boeing. First flight of the original F-15A occurred in 1972.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220/229 turbofan engines with a combined thrust of over 50,000 pounds, the F-15 has a top speed of greater than Mach 2.5.
In early 1975, an F-15A designated "Streak Eagle" broke eight time-to-climb world records. It attained an altitude of 98,425 feet in just under 3 and a half minutes from brake release at takeoff and coasted to nearly 103,000 feet before beginning its descent.
The Eagle entered service in 1974 with the 58th Tactical Training Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
The Eagle usually carries four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and either four more AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles or 18 conventional bombs, in addition to one 20 millimeter M61A1 Vulcan cannon.
The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative first flew in 1989, and is currently the USAF's primary fighter-bomber.
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Type: Single seat air-superiority fighter
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney afterburning turbofans, 23,800 lbs of thrust each
Performance: Maximum speed-- Mach 2.5. Range-- 2,878 miles
Weights: Empty-- 28,000 lbs. Maximum take-off 56,000 lbs.
Dimensions: Wingspan 42 ft. Length 63 ft. 9 in.
Armament: One 20 millimeter M61A1 Vulcan cannon and four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, or 18 conventional bombs
Operators
- Japan F-15 J/DJ/E (Built through Mitsubishi)
- Israel F-15 A/B/C/D
- Saudi Arabia C/D
- South Korea F-15 E
- United States All variants including experimental models
Combat History
Israel
The F-15 first saw combat with the Israeli air force. On June 27, 1979, F-15s were escorting a strike mission in southern Lebanon when several Syrian Mig-21s attempted to intercept. The Eagles shot down four Migs with no loss.[1]
In 1981, Israeli Eagles provided escort for the successful attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq.
United States
The F-15 first saw combat with the US Air Force in the Gulf War. On the first night of Desert Storm, January 17, 1991, Eagle pilot Captain John Kelk shot down a Mig-29 with a Sparrow missile for the first air-to-air victory of the war. Eagles downed five more Iraqi planes that night (two more Mig-29s and three Mirages), all with Sparrow missiles. 2 days later, Eagles scored a further six victories. By the end of the war, US Air Force Eagles had shot down 31 Iraqi aircraft, 26 of them fighters, for no losses.[2] After the war, F-15s enforced the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq.
See also
References
External links
- Factsheets : F-15E Strike Eagle - U.S. Air Force
- F-15 Eagle USAF Fact Sheet